RoadVitals

1999 BMW Z3

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Mar 8, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Mar 23, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW Z3, most frequently naming the body & structure, airbags and powertrain (other) categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 11 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
99V272000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

Oct 7, 1999
36 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL MAY CONTAIN RING GEAR BOLTS THAT WERE INCORRECTLY TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE BOLT OR BOLTS COULD LOOSEN LEADING TO NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL.
The risk: THE BOLT OR BOLTS COULD LOOSEN LEADING TO NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND IF A BOLT WERE TO COMPLETELY WORK LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNT, LOCKUP OF THE REAR AXLE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S DIFFERENTIAL AND IF INVOLVED, WILL REPLACE IT.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
98V275000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Nov 3, 1998
1,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NUT THAT SECURES THE MAIN POSITIVE CABLE TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO LOOSEN OVER TIME. IF THIS OCCURRED, THE CABLE COULD ULTIMATELY LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY COULD BE INTERRUPTED.
The risk: IF THIS OCCURED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE COULD STOP. ALSO, IF THE VEHICLE WERE BEING OPERATED AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM COULD SHUT OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 39
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2024

Hello, NHTSA released a recall warning for BMWs made from 2000 to 2006, regarding Takata airbags. "The risk to vehicle occupants is dire," it said. My 1999 BMW Z3 was made one year before this, and is not included in the recall. I have been trying to determine whether my '99 BMW has Takata airbags as well, thus far with no success. As of today, BMW will only tell me that there are no outstanding recalls for my car - they have not been willing to tell me what type of airbags they originally installed in it. Do your records indicate what type of airbags I have?

NHTSA ID
11576189
Incident
Mar 8, 2024
Airbags
Filed Dec 13, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT

NHTSA ID
11288865
Incident
Jul 16, 2017
Mileage
103,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 2019

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. WHETHER CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11288157
Incident
Oct 10, 2019
Mileage
53,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 6, 2017

VERY WELL KNOWN FAILURE, JUST SEARCH FOR "BMW Z3 SUBFRAME FAILURE". IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY BMW THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF Z3'S THROUGH ALL MODEL YEARS. MINE STARTED TO POP ONE WELD AT 88K MILES. IT CAN CAUSE THE REAR ALIGNMENT TO BE OFF, IN WORST CASE THE TRUNK FLOOR IS TORN OUT AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FALLS TO THE GROUND. CLUNKING FROM THE BACK WHILE SHIFTING IN THE FIRST TWO GEARS IS ONE INDICATOR THIS DAMAGE IS NOT FAR AWAY. THIS IS ONE FORUM THREAD THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE WELL: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?1979601-SUBFRAME-TRUNK-FLOOR-DIFFERENTIAL-MOUNT-FAILURE

NHTSA ID
11032127
Incident
Oct 6, 2017
Mileage
88,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 17, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW Z3. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO REVERSE, A CLANKING SOUND EMERGED FROM THE REAR END WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V272000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10874771
Incident
Jun 13, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 20, 2015

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR, UNDER OR NEAR THE TRUNK AREA. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE Z3 SERIES OF VEHICLES. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IF THE READ DIFFERENTIAL SEPARATES FROM THE SUBFRAME, AND COULD CAUSE A HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORIST. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE FRAME WAS DESIGNED FOR A 1.9L ENGINE, AND BMW DID NOT REDESIGN THE SUBFRAME TO ALLOW FOR THE LARGER ENGINES IT LATER SOLD IN THE Z3 SERIES OF CARS. BMW ALSO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE ON 3XX SERIES OF VEHICLES, AND AGREED TO REPAIR THOSE CARS DUE TO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE SETTLEMENT. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN ISSUE, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676809
Incident
Nov 26, 2014
Mileage
101,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 15, 2014

DRIVER SEAT BECAME LOOSE AND WOULD SLIDE FORWARD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND BACKWARD ON ACCELERATION. THE MOVEMENT WAS ABRUPT ENOUGH TO BE DISCONCERTING, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY MANEUVER. BMW DEALERSHIP ADVISED IT WAS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND NOT DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS NOT AT RISK OF FULLY DETACHING. I HAVE LIVED WITH IT, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS AND IT FEELS UNSAFE - AS IF THE SEAT MIGHT COME LOOSE. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO ANY DRIVER WHO IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO IT AND EVEN TO ME - A LIKELY CAUSE OF DRIVER ERROR OR LOSS OF CONTROL DURING ABRUPT MANEUVERS. RECENTLY AS I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR SOLUTIONS I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 M ROADSTER VERSION OF THE Z3. I THINK IT IS SUFFICIENT TO MERIT RECALL, BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU FOLKS DO FOR A LIVING... I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO IT CAREFULLY. PS: THE DATE THAT I ENTERED IS A VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE. I DO NOT RECALL PRECISELY WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10622505
Incident
Aug 18, 2005
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 2014

MY 1999 BMW ROADSTER ENGINE BEGAN TORQUING FROM IDLE TO VERY FAST WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN. IT WILL STOP THIS WHEN I SHUT OFF ENGINE AND TURN IT BACK ON. I FEAR THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578088
Incident
Oct 20, 2011
Mileage
88,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SI B12 12 10

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BMW: WHEN AT LOWER SPEEDS OR STOPPING THE ENGINE IDLE DIPS TOO LOW BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM

620300

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

SUBJECT REGARDING SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING VARIOUS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAULTS. *TT

110500

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

EXPERIENCING A BUZZING OR RATTLING NOISE HEARD COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TT

040600

EQUIPMENT

INFORMATION REGARDING THE DSC III TEST CABLE. *TT

160199

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONCERNS WITH FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TT

620199

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONDITIONS WITH FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 WHEN TANK IS FULL. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW Z3 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004010—
2003210—
2002610—
2001191040.5
2000341055.6
1999Viewing393045.2
1998301043.5
1997472050.7
1996302051.0

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.